Traveling conveyer apparatus



May 28, 19460 R. w. SPAFFORD TRAVELING CONVEYER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1945 Patented May 28, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAVELING CONVEYER APPARATUS Ralph W. Spafford, Fairfield, Iowa, assignor to The Louden Machinery Company, Fairficld, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application January 18, 1945, Serial No. 573,442

12 Claims.

This application relates to traveling conveyer apparatus and equipment, more particularly to control systems for traveling conveyer apparatus and equipment, and it is an object of the invention to provide improved control systems of the character indicated.

In the operation of conveyer apparatus, a suitable trackway is provided. In well known constructions the trackway frequently takes the form of an overhead monorail from which the conveyer is suspended. Electric motor-driven conveyers move along the monorail and tow a plurality of cars or hoists behind them. It is also well known to have each car or hoist provided with its own motor for propulsion along the trackway.

' It is frequently desirable to perform some 0011- trol function in connection with conveyerswhen the conveyers reach a particular point'in the pathway of travel. Moreover, it is frequently desirable that the control function be selective so that it is exercised only when the cars or conveyers are moving in one direction and it is not exercised when the conveyer is moving in the opposite direction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved control system for conveyer apparatus and equipment in which a conveyer moving in one direction on a conveyer trackway actuates an external control circuit, but a conveyer moving in the opposite direction on the same trackway does not actuate the external control circuit.

In carrying out the invention in one form, conveyer apparatus comprising a trackway for carrying a conveyer thereon, the conveyer including a propulsion motor is provided along with a conductor for supplying power extending alongside the trackway and a return circuit to complete the power circuit. The conductor is seetionalized and a series of control sections are spaced between the conductor sections and are insulated therefrom to be contacted by a collector movable with the conveyer for supplying power to the propulsion motor and successively energizing the control sections from the conductor. A relay having contacts movable to an open and a closed position for controlling an external circuit is provided, the relay including coil means connected to two of the series of control sections for energizing the coil means to operate the relay contacts to an open position. The coil means is also connected to a third of the control sections spaced between the two control sections for energizing the coil means to operate the relay contacts to a closed position. A conductor connected to a fourth of the control sections spaced between one of the two control sections and the third control section is arranged to be connected by the relay contacts'for controlling the external grammatically in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the invention isshown as embodied in conveyer apparatus including a conveyer Iii suspended by a trolley from a monorail or trackway H which may be attached to an "overhead construction by suitable means, not shown. The trolley consists of a yoke l2 extending on each side of the'monorail i I, the yoke I2 including in each of it arms, as shown, a trolley wheel l3' which rides on the flanges of the monorail. It will be realized that any number of yokes l2 and wheels [3 may be connected to the conveyer and spaced longitudinally thereof for increased support, only one yoke and two wheels being shown for simplicity. The conveyer includes an electric motor. l4 driving a chain I5 which drives a wheel IS, the wheel I6 engaging the lower side of the monorail for propulsion along the trackway. Electric motor I4 is controlled by the switch I! which may be of a well known type having three positionsof operation, a forward position, a rearward position and a stop position.

Mounted adjacent the top of the monorail H are the conductors or bus bars 20 and 2| for supplying power to drive the conveyer motor it, as well as to supply power for operating the control system, as will be described. While only two conductors orbus bars are shown it will be apparent that more may be used. In alternating current installations using three phase power, for

spectively, which are rigidly attached to the trol ley apparatus. The current collector are shown as comprising rolling contacts, but it will be realized that other forms of contacts may be used. The propulsion of the conveyer is controlled by the switch I 1 which effects operation of Well known contactors for closing the power circuits to the motor [4, the contactors being housed in the box 26 supported on the conveyer.

Referring to Fig. 1, the conveyer l and power collectors are shown schematically as running on the monorail II and the conductors or, bus

1 bars L! and L2, LI and L2 corresponding respectively to the bus bars 20 and 2| of Fig. 2. Bus bar L! is interrupted or sectionalized at a plurality of points to provide the bus bar sections 21',"

23 and 29 separated from each other along the bu bar, Spaced between the ends of the bus bar and the bus bar sections 21, 28 and 29 are the control elements or sections 30, 3|, 32 and 33; respectively, for supplying power when energized to a portion of the control system. Each control section is insulated from the adjacent ends of the bus bar sections by suitable insulators 34. The" 39 flashes on to tell an operator that a conveyer has gone by. The circuit to the signal lamp is,

complete at this stage of conveyer movement by virtue of the fact that the over-center toggle device 35 has kept the relay contacts 31 closed. Continuing in its direction of movement the current collector moves off of control section 32 and the signal light flashes ofi, the collector eventually reaching the control section 33 which energizes the opening coil to open the external circuit.

It is apparent that the external circuit receives only a momentary impulse when the conveyer is moving to the right.

When the conveyer is moving to the left the collector 22 contacts the control section 33 which assures that the relay contacts are open by ener-' gizing the opening coil 4| and when the collector contacts the control section 32 the signal light cannot be energized because the relay contacts 31 are open. As the collector 22 contacts control section 3|, the closing coil is energized and contacts 31 closed, but at this point there is no power available to the external circuit from the control section 32 since the current collector has already passed through this point. Finally the collector contacts the control section and again energizes the opening coil ll to open the contacts 31 when the relay is actuated to one position it remains so until some impulse is received to release th over-center device. The relay 35 is provided with the normally open set of contacts 31 adapted to be closed when the over-center toggle 36 is 43 when energized acting to close the contacts 31 by actuating the over-center toggle and the coil 4| when energized acting to open the con tacts 31 by tripping the'over-center toggle. The closing coil 40 may be energized through a circuit extending from L2, through the coil 43 and conductor 42 to the control section 31. opening coil 41 may be energized through two circuits, one xtending from L2 through the coil All and conductor 43 to the control section 33 and the other extending from L2, through the coil 4! and conductor 44 to the control section 30. is to be noted that control sections 30 and 33 for energizing the opening coilof the relay are spaced beyond the control sections 3t and 32 for energizing the opening coil and the external circuit,

The

actuated, one of the contacts being connected to and clear the circuit.

It is to be noted that the span of the power collector 22 is such that it spans over any one of the control sections so that at no time will the motor I l be without power.

While a particular embodiment of the'invention has been shown it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and it is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A conveyer system comprising a trackway, a conveyer mounted to travel thereon, a motor carried by said conveyer, bus bar means extending alongside said trackway, and collector means carried by said conveyer including means for supplying power to said motor from said bus bar means, four control bu bar sections insulated from said bus bar means engaged successively by said collector means in their travel, an electrical- 1y controlled device, a line for supplying power thereto connected to an intermediate control bus bar section, a switch in said line, electric means for closing the switch connected with another intermediate control bus bar section, and electric means for opening said switch connected with both end control bus bar sections, said collector aspects of the circuit as the conveyer It moves in each direction along the trackway. As the conveyer moves from the left to right under the motive effort of the .motor l4 receiving its power from L1 and L2, the control section 30 is contacted by the collector 22 and this energizes the opening coil from Ll through the circuit previously described to open the contacts 31 and thereby clear the external circuit. As the conveyer continues in the direction to the right the control section 3| is next energized from Ll by the collector and theclosing coil 40 responds through the circuit including the conductor 32 to close the contacts 31 to condition the external circuit for its control function. When the conveyer and the collector 22 reach the control section 32, the external circuit is energized and the signal light means comprising means for successively connectlng said control bus bar sections with said bus bar means. V a

2. A conveyer system comprising a trackway, a conveyer mounted to travel thereon, an electrically energizable device carried by said conveyer, bus bar means extending alongside said trackway, and collector means carried by said conveyer including means for supplying power to said device from said bus bar means, four control bus bar sectionsinsulated from said bu bar means engagedsuccessively by said collector means in their travel, an electrically controlled device, a line for supplying power thereto connected to an intermediate control bus bar section, a switch in said line,' electric.means for'closing said switch con nected with another intermediate control bus bar section, and electric mean for opening said switch connected with both end control bus bar sections, said collector means comprising means for successively connecting said control bus bar sections with said bus bar means.

3. A conveyersystem comprising a trackway for a motor carrying conveyer to travel thereon, bus bar means extending alongside said trackway for engagement by collector means carried by said conveyer including means for supplying power to said motor, four control bus bar sections insulated from said bus bar means eng ge su cessively by said collector means in theirtravel, an electrically controlled device, a line forsupplying power thereto connected to an intermediate control bus bar section, a switch in said line, electric means for closing said switch connected with another intermediate control bus bar section, and electric means for opening said switch connected with both end control bus bar sections, said collector means comprising means for successively connecting said control bus bar sections with said bus bar means.

4. A conveyer system comprising a trackway, a conveyer mounted to travel thereon, a motor carried by said conveyer, bus bar means extending alongside said trackway, collector means carried by said conveyer including means for supplying power to said motor from said bus bar means, four control bus bar sections insulated from said bu bar means engaged successively by said collector means in their travel, an electrically controlled device, a line for supplying power thereto connected to an intermediate control bus bar section, a switch in said line, electric means for closing said switch connected with another intermediate control bus bar section, and electric means for opening said switch connected with both end control bus bar sections, said collector means comprising means for successively connecting said control bus bar sections with said bus bar means, said collector means includin electrically connected contactsspaced to simultaneously engage said bus bar means on both sides of an insulated bus bar section.

5. A conveyer system comprising a trackway, a

conveyer mounted to travel thereon, an electrically controlled device, a lin for supplying power thereto, a switch in said line, electric means for closing said switch, electric means for openin said switch, and contact means successively operable by the conveyer in its movement in one direction for successively energizing said switch opening means, said switch closing means, said line and said switch opening means and operable by the conveyer in its movement in the opposite direction to successively energize said switch opening means, said line, said switch cl-osing means and said switch opening means.

6. Conveyer apparatus comprising, a trackway for carrying a conveyer thereon, said conveyer including a motor, a conductor extending alongside said trackway and a return circuit, said conductor being sectionalized, a series of control sections successively spaced between sections of said conductor and insulated therefrom, a collector movable with said conveyer engaging said conductor for supplying power to said motor and for successively energizing said control sections from said conductor and a relay having contacts for controlling an external circuit, said external circuit being adapted to be connected to a firstof said control sections, said relay having coil means connected to a second of said series of control sections for energizing said coil means to operate said relay contacts to a closed position, said coil means also being connected to a third of said control sections for energizing said coil means to operate said relay contacts to an open position.

'7. Conveyor apparatus comprising, a trackway for carrying a conveyer thereon, said conveyer includin a motor, a conductor extending alongside said trackway and a return circuit, said conductor being sectionalized, a series of control sections successively spaced between sections of said conductor and insulated therefrom, a collectormovable with said conveyer engaging said conductor for supplying power to said motor and for successively energizing said control sections from said conductor, a relay having contacts for controlling an external circuit, said relay having coil means connected to a first of said series of control sections for energizing said coil means to operate said relay contacts to a closed position, said coil means also being connected to a second of said series of control sections for energizing said coil means to operate said contacts to an open position, and a conductor arranged to be connected to said relay contacts for controlling said external circuit, said conductor being connected to a third of said control sections spaced between said first and second control sections.

8. Conveyer apparatus comprising, a trackway for carrying a conveyer thereon, said conveyer including a motor, means for controlling an external circuit operated by said conveyer moving in one direction only, said means comprising bus bar means extending alongside said trackway, collector means in contact with said bus bars moving with said conveyer for supplying power to said propulsion motor, a plurality of contact means associated with said bus bar means and adapted to be energized by said collector from said bus bar means, an external circuit connected to a first of said contact means, a switch in said external circuit, electric means for operatin said switch to an open position connected to a second of said contact means spaced on one side of said first contact means and electric means for operating said switch to a closed position connected to a third of said contact means spaced on the other side of first contact means, mechanical holding means for said switch whereby a short electrical impulse from said collector is sufficient to energize said closin electric means to actuate said switch to a closed position.

9. In combination with conveyer apparatus including a trackway and a conveyer adapted to i be driven by an electric motor, means for controlling an external circuit operated by said conveyer moving in one direction only, said means comprising bus bar means extending alongside said trackway, collector means in contact with saidbus bars moving with said conveyer for supplying power to said motor, a conductor connected to said external circuit and connected to a control device associated with said bus bar whereby said collector moving on said bus bar means supplies power to said external circuit, a conditioning switch included in said conductor, means associated with said bus bar means for closing said conditioning switch when said collector is moving in one direction before said collector reaches said external circuit contact device and means associated with said bus bar means for opening said conditioning switch after said collector has passed said external circuit contact device.

10. Conveyer apparatus comprising, a trackway for carrying a conveyer thereon, said conveyer including a motor, a conductor extending alongside said trackway and a return circuit, said conductor being sectionalized, a series of control sections spaced between sections of said conductor and insulated therefrom, a collector movable with said conveyer engaging said conductor for successively energizing said control sections from said conductor, a relay having contacts movable to an open and a closed position for controlling an external circuit, coil means on said relay, said coil means being connected to two of said series of control sections for energizing said coil means to operate said relay contacts to an open position and being connected to a third of said control sections spaced between said two control sections for energizing said coil means to operate said relay contacts to a closed position, and a conductor arranged to be connected by said relay contacts for controlling said external circuit, said conductor being connected to a fourth of said control sections spaced between one of said two control sections and said third control section.

11. In combination with conveyer apparatus including a trackway and a conveyer adapted to be driven by an electric motor, means for controlling an external circuit operated by said conveyer moving in one direction only, said means comprising a conductor for supplying power and a return circuit, a series of successively spaced control elements associated with said conductor and insulated therefrom, a collector movable with said conveyer for supplying power to said motor and for energizing said control elements in succession from said conductor, a relay having con- 'tacts and including coil means to operate said contacts between open and closed positions, a conductor comiected to a first of said control elements and adapted to be connected to said external circuit by said relay contacts, a conductor connecting said coil means to a second of said control elements for operating said relay contacts to a closed position and two conductors connectin said coil means to a third and fourth of said control elements for operating said relay contacts to an open position, said third and fourth control elements being spaced respectively on each side of said first and second control elements.

12. In combination with conveyer apparatus including a trackway and a conveyer adapted to be driven by an electric motor, means for controlling an external circuit operated by said conveyer moving in one direction only, said means comprising apair of conductors for supplying power, one of said conductors being sectionalized, a series of control sections successively spaced between sections of said one conductor and insulated therefrom, a collector movable with said conveyer for supplying power to said motor and for successively energizing said control sections from said one conductor, a relay having a pair of contacts, said relay also having a coil for opening said relay contacts and a coil for closing said relay contacts, two conductors connecting said opening coil to two spaced control sections, a conductor connecting said closing coil to a third control section spaced between said two control sections and a conductor adapted to be connected toan external circuit by said relay contacts and connected to a fourth control section spaced between one of said two control sections and said third control section. I

, RALPH W. SPAFFORD. 

